discharge

1 of 2

verb

dis·​charge dis-ˈchärj How to pronounce discharge (audio)
ˈdis-ˌchärj
discharged; discharging; discharges

transitive verb

1
: to relieve of a charge, load, or burden:
a
: unload
discharge a cargo ship
b
: to release from an obligation
will be discharged from further payment
c
electrical engineering : to release electrical energy from (something, such as a battery or capacitor) by a discharge (see discharge entry 2 sense 9b)
discharging electricity from a battery
2
a
: to let or put off
discharge passengers
discharge cargo
b
: shoot
discharge an arrow
c
: to release from confinement, custody, or care
discharge a prisoner
discharge a patient
d
: to give outlet or vent to : emit
discharge emotions
vehicles discharging exhaust fumes
3
a(1)
: to dismiss from employment
had to discharge several employees last month
(2)
: to release from service or duty
discharge a soldier
was discharged from the Navy
b
: to get rid of (something, such as a debt or obligation) by performing an appropriate action (such as payment)
failing to discharge their debts
c
law : to set aside or dismiss : annul
discharge a court order
d
: to order (a legislative committee) to end consideration of a bill (see bill entry 4 sense 6) in order to bring it before the house (see house entry 1 sense 6a) for action
4
: to bear and distribute (something, such as the weight of a wall above an opening)
5
: to bleach out or remove (color or dye) in dyeing and printing textiles
6
: to cancel the record of the loan of (a library book) upon return

intransitive verb

1
a
: to throw off or deliver a load, charge, or burden
b
: to release electrical energy by a discharge (see discharge entry 2 sense 9b)
ensure that the electricity discharges safely
2
a
: go off, fire
used of a gun
His weapon discharged.
b
: spread, run
some dyes discharge
c
: to pour forth fluid or other contents
where the river discharges into the ocean
dischargeable
dis-ˈchär-jə-bəl How to pronounce discharge (audio)
ˈdis-ˌchär-
adjective
dischargee noun
discharger
dis-ˈchär-jər How to pronounce discharge (audio)
ˈdis-ˌchär-
noun

discharge

2 of 2

noun

dis·​charge ˈdis-ˌchärj How to pronounce discharge (audio)
dis-ˈchärj
1
a
: the act of relieving of something that oppresses : release
b
: something that discharges or releases
especially : a certification of release or payment
produced the discharge as evidence
2
: the state of being discharged or relieved
3
: the act of discharging or unloading
her discharge from the hospital
4
law : release from confinement
a record of prison discharges
5
: a firing off
the discharge of a weapon
6
a
: a flowing or issuing out
a discharge of spores
a discharge of mucus
also : a rate of flow
controlling the discharge of water
b
: something that is emitted
a purulent discharge
a clear discharge from the eyes and nose
7
law : the act of removing an obligation or liability (see liability sense 2)
received a full discharge from his creditors
8
a
: release or dismissal especially from an office or employment
suing for wrongful discharge
b
: complete separation from military service
her discharge from the Navy
an honorable discharge
9
a
physics : the equalization of a difference of electric potential (see potential entry 2 sense 2c) between two points
b
energy engineering : the conversion of the chemical energy of a battery into electrical energy
Choose the Right Synonym for discharge

perform, execute, discharge, accomplish, achieve, effect, fulfill mean to carry out or into effect.

perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill.

performed gymnastics

execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent.

executed the hit-and-run

discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks.

discharged his duties

accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out.

accomplished everything they set out to do

achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties.

achieve greatness

effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles.

effected sweeping reforms

fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities.

fulfilled their ambitions

Examples of discharge in a Sentence

Verb She's due to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday. We had to discharge several employees last week. Thousands of soldiers were discharged after the war. The judge discharged the jury. The ship discharged missiles against enemy targets. The gun failed to discharge. Noun The doctors approved her discharge from the hospital. Several former employees are suing the company for wrongful discharge. After his discharge from the military, he went to college to become a teacher. The damage was caused by accidental discharge of a hunting rifle. a rapid discharge from a gun
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Middleton was reportedly discharged from the London Clinic, a private hospital, on January 29 after a 13-day convalescence. Brian Barrett, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 The good news is she was discharged the following day. Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 At one point the injuries were severe enough that Ortega was discharged with a walker. Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 Days later, on Jan. 29, the palace announced Middleton was discharged from the hospital and returned home to Windsor Castle. Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 1 Mar. 2024 In at least some cases, borrowers may have taken steps in reliance of the notice that their student loans were discharged — such as leaving public service employment, or purchasing a home and taking out a mortgage premised on no longer having any student loan payments. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Many have pointed toward King Charles' ample health transparency as a concerning contrast to Middleton's. News of King Charles' cancer diagnosis was made public Feb. 5, a week after he was discharged from the London Clinic. Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 1 Mar. 2024 One of the mothers discharged pepper spray, according to authorities. Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2024 Becky told Dateline that Haleigh was in the Army for about three years before she was medically discharged due to hip problems. Anna Turning, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
The man was booked into San Mateo County jail on multiple charges including shooting into an inhabited dwelling, willful discharge of a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm. Jason Green, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 If either discharge petition ends up getting 218 signatures, Johnson could use several mechanisms to kill it before a final vote is held. Abigail Hauslohner, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Seeking to put pressure on the Republican speaker, House Democrats have launched a long-shot effort to force a vote through a discharge petition. CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 Montoya faulted managers for failing to follow up on complaints about two accidental discharges of blank rounds. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 The Education Department launched a series of improvements to the Total and Permanent Disability discharge program through a combination of emergency relief and regulatory reforms, resulting in at least 513,000 borrowers getting approved for a discharge. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The group Republicans for Ukraine want Womack and nine other House Republicans to consider backing a discharge petition, which would allow the House to consider the Senate's bill without needing leadership approval. Alex Thomas, arkansasonline.com, 25 Feb. 2024 There’s odor protection and thicker material in the gusset, so users can wear these without a pad when experiencing light discharge. Nikita Charuza, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024 Before that, a discharge petition hadn't succeeded since 2002. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'discharge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English dischargen, discargen, deschargen "to unload, free (from something burdensome), deprive, put an end to, get rid of (a debt, obligation, duty)," borrowed from Anglo-French descharger, descarger, from des- dis- + charger, carger "to load, burden" — more at charge entry 1

Noun

Middle English discharge, descharge "release, relief," borrowed from Anglo-French, "unloading, release, relief," derivative of descharger "to unload, free (from something burdensome)" — more at discharge entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of discharge was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near discharge

Cite this Entry

“Discharge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discharge. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

discharge

1 of 2 verb
dis·​charge dis-ˈchärj How to pronounce discharge (audio)
ˈdis-ˌchärj
1
: to relieve of a charge, load, or burden : unload
discharge a ship
2
3
: to set free
discharge a prisoner
4
: to dismiss from service or employment
discharge a soldier
5
: to let go or let off
discharge passengers
6
: to give forth fluid or other contents
this river discharges into the ocean
7
: to get rid of by paying or doing
discharge a debt
discharge a function
discharger noun

discharge

2 of 2 noun
dis·​charge ˈdis-ˌchärj How to pronounce discharge (audio)
dis-ˈchärj
1
a
: the act of discharging
b
: something that discharges
especially : a certification of release or payment
2
: a firing off
3
a
: a flowing out
also : a rate of flow
b
: something that is given forth
a discharge of pus from a wound
4
a
: release or dismissal especially from an office or employment
b
: complete separation from military service
was given an honorable discharge
5
: a flow of electricity (as in lightning or through a gas)

Medical Definition

discharge

1 of 2 verb
discharged; discharging

transitive verb

1
: to release from confinement, custody, or care
discharge a patient from the hospital
2
a
: to give outlet to or emit
a boil discharging pus
b
: to release or give expression to (a pent-up emotion or a repressed impulse)
discharged his anxiety by working out with a punching bag

intransitive verb

: to pour forth fluid or other contents

discharge

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act of relieving of something
discharge of a repressed impulse
2
: release from confinement, custody, or care
returned to work the day after discharge from the hospital
3
: something that is emitted or evacuated
a purulent discharge from a wound
a thick white vaginal discharge

Legal Definition

discharge

1 of 2 transitive verb
1
: to release from an obligation: as
a
: to relieve of a duty under an instrument (as a contract or a negotiable instrument)
also : to render (an instrument) no longer enforceable
a formal instrument…may be discharged by either cancellation or surrender J. D. Calamari and J. M. Perillo
b
: to release (a debtor in bankruptcy) from liability for his or her debts
2
: to release from confinement, custody, or care
discharge a prisoner
3
a
: to dismiss from employment : terminate the employment of
b
: to release from service or duty
discharge a jury
discharge a witness
4
a
: to get rid of (as a debt or obligation) by performing an appropriate action
b
: to fulfill a requirement for
evidence which is required to discharge the burden of going forwardW. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
5
: to order (a legislative committee) to end consideration of a bill in order to bring it before the house for action
dischargeability
dis-ˌchär-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun
dischargeable adjective

discharge

2 of 2 noun
dis·​charge ˈdis-ˌchärj How to pronounce discharge (audio)
1
a
: the act of relieving of something that burdens or oppresses : release
b
: something that discharges or releases
especially : a certification of or a document proving release or payment
2
: the state of being discharged or released
a party seeking a total discharge
3
: release from confinement
ordering a conditional discharge of the alien on habeas corpusHarvard Law Review
4
: the act of removing an obligation or liability (as by payment of a debt or performance of a duty)
5
a
: a dismissal from employment or office
constructive discharge
: discharge of an employee effected by making the employee's working conditions so intolerable that he or she reasonably feels compelled to resign
retaliatory discharge
: a wrongful discharge that is done in retaliation for an employee's conduct (as reporting an employer's criminal activity) and that clearly violates public policy
wrongful discharge
: discharge of an employee for illegal reasons or for reasons that are contrary to public policy (as in retaliation for the employee's refusal to engage in unlawful activity)
b
: a release from service or duty

More from Merriam-Webster on discharge

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